FC Wichita

2018 US Open Cup Round 3: NTX Rayados edge FC Wichita with another game-winner from super sub Christian Okeke

May 24, 2018 by Adam Uthe

It couldn’t have happened any other way. NTX Rayados second half substitute Christian Okeke scored in the 86th minute and the Dallas-based amateur side advanced past FC Wichita 3-2 to earn their first-ever Fourth Round appearance in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

For the third time in as many rounds, Okeke came off the bench and made the difference. He scored the extra-time game winner in Round 1 against Fort Worth Vaqueros and then scored the (eventual) winner (in extra time) in Round 2 against United Soccer League (USL) side OKC Energy.

“It’s great,” a breathless Okeke said of his “super sub” role after the game “(As long as) we keep winning, I’m always happy.”

Asked if the team has ever considered starting Okeke, captain and club co-founder Tito Salas was pretty direct.

“No. Christian is Christian. He knows the plan. It’s been working – why change it?”

The goal was Okeke’s fourth of the 2018 tournament, which puts him in second place behind Miami United’s David Ochoa.

Rayados are joined in Round 3 by two other open division teams, Miami United, a pro team from the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and FC Golden State Force an amateur team from the Premier Development League. In the Modern Era (1995-present) of the tournament, only seven open division teams from outside of the PDL and the NPSL have reached the Fourth Round. The draw for the Fourth Round will take place on Thursday, May 24 at 11 a.m. EST when the Rayados will find out which MLS team they will play in Round 4.

The first half unfolded slowly as both teams traded brief spells of possession, searching each other for weaknesses on the back line. NTX controlled the ball more, but failed to create anything dangerous. Then in the sixth minute, a square pass from the right side found no one – from either team – in the center of the field right outside the box. Ramos swooped in from his holding midfield position and fired off a shot that took a deflection off a Wichita defender. The ball went just beyond the fingertips of Wichita goalkeeper Mark Weir. NTX slowly took more control of the game, holding possession and probing Wichita for weaknesses.

Then in the 24th minute, Sergio Lara chased down a long ball over the top that found its way into the box. He clashed with a Wichita defender in what appeared to be a fair challenge, but a penalty was awarded. Lucio Martinez, who scored a perfect free kick in NTX’s Round 1 win over Fort Worth Vaqueros, hit his penalty poorly and Weir was able to get down in time to parry it aside. It would’ve been a wasted opportunity for Rayados, but four minutes later it was Escalera’s turn to get on the end of a long ball over the top. Escalera and Weir came out to meet the ball at the same time on the edge of the box and Escalera needed only one touch to win the duel and poke the ball into the back of the net.

Wichita coach Blake Shumaker felt a change was needed and in the 37th minute, he swapped out left back Luis Vidal Pla in favor of Matthew Clare. The momentum slowly swung back towards Wichita, who created several chances toward the end of the first half, mostly through target forward Franck Tayou, but nothing got past Rayados goalkeeper Eduardo Cortes Sanchez. NTX carried the 2-0 lead into the break.

In contrast with what was a relatively clean first half, the second half got off to a rough start. Rayados forward Sergio Lara went down under a hard challenge and had to be helped up, but would eventually carry on. Then in the 57th minute, Salas picked up a yellow card for a rash challenge in the middle of the field. Three minutes later, Wichita winger Thomas Wells played Jose Landaverde, who scored the stoppage time winner for Wichita in Round 2, through in on goal. Sanchez came out to meet him, but Landaverde held on long enough to get the touch he needed to get the goal. NTX immediately brought on Okeke and Antonio Hernandez, but in the 65th minute Wichita earned a corner kick and midfielder Andres Ochoa rose high enough to get his head on it and push it past Sanchez. Suddenly the game was tied and momentum seemed to shift back to Wichita.

Wichita began to possess the ball more and Rayados looked visibly frustrated; as did their several hundred supporters. Lara and Jose Goncalves Toledo were both booked and it looked like the dream run might end for NTX. Then Okeke dribbled through multiple defenders, into the six-yard box, only to have his effort snuffed out for a corner. Momentum swung back to the home side and in the 86th minute, Victor Pinal picked up a poor clearance from the Wichita defense, carried it to the edge of the penalty area, and found Okeke inside the box, who clinically placed his shot into the upper 90 on the far post.

Tensions boiled over in the aftermath of the goal and a member of the Wichita technical staff was ejected from the bench, as was reserve Kieran Laking. NTX’s Sergio Lara was also sent off, setting up a tense final few minutes of the game. Wichita got one last chance in stoppage time, but Tayou couldn’t convert the chance and Rayados became the 15th open division side ever to reach the fourth round of the tournament.

“It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a beautiful feeling. It’s time to enjoy it now.”, Salas said after the game, surrounded by his family and close friends. Like several members of the team, Salas is married with kids and had to rearrange several family events and school events (he works as an assistant principal in the Dallas Independent School District) to get ready for the game, but for him it was worth the extra effort.

“That’s fine. They’re out here with us. It’s a family environment.”

Rayados will have to wait until Thursday’s draw to learn their fate for Round 4, but Okeke is already ready to go.

“I’m excited. With this group of guys, anything can happen. I think we’re all going into it thinking we can win.”

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: FC Wichita makes NPSL history with upset of Tulsa Roughnecks

May 20, 2018 by Jordan Beech

FC Wichita left it late, but walked out winners, 4-3, over Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Wednesday night in the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Both teams finished with 10 men on the pitch.

With the victory, FC Wichita earned the right to play in the Third Round of the US Open Cup for the first time in club history. What’s more, Wichita made league history becoming just the second amateur NPSL team to upset a pro team in the tournament since the league was founded in 2003. (Jacksonville Armada FC defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies on the same night, but the Armada are a pro team). Chattanooga FC upset the Wilmington Hammerheads (then of the USL) in 2014 and 2015.

“We knew coming in, after last year’s near result , that we were a stronger team now than we were last year,” said Wichita CEO Blake Shumaker. “We believe our first fourteen, fifteen, deep is USL quality. We felt like if we stayed together and got guys behind the ball to defend then we’d have a chance to win.”

Franck Tayou bagged a brace to push Wichita past Tulsa, including the match-winner in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. He nicked the ball off the feet of TRFC goalkeeper Chase Gentry before curling in a ball to the far post from no angle.

“As soon as I saw Sosa on the side, I knew he was going to put the ball in. It was just a matter of finding the ball,” explained Tayou on the lead up to his match-winner. “The defender froze because he thought his keeper was going to come out, and he hesitated. I kept running, and once I took my first touch, I just turned around and found the back of the net.”

Despite two golden chances in the final moments of the match, Tulsa was unable to level the affair as Mark Weir came up with a pair of clutch saves.

Jhon Pirez had Tulsa in front inside the first 38 minutes after scoring goals on either side of a goal by Wichita’s Thomas Wells in the 35th minute. The Roughnecks went into the locker rooms for halftime leading 2-1.

The lead wouldn’t last long, however, as Tayou tallied his first of the match quickly after the restart off a corner. The ball fell to the forward’s feet after a goalmouth scramble and he managed to place it in the back of the net.

Just like the last time Wichita levelled the contest, however, Tulsa was able to restore their advantage soon after. In the 51st minute Nemanja Vukovic connected with Riggs Lennon to put TRFC back on top. It was Vukovic’s second assist of the night.

90+2’ – NELSON LANDAVERDE FOR THE WIN! pic.twitter.com/1kKGBJd6T5

— FC Wichita (@FCWichita) May 20, 2018

Wichita, playing with 10 men due to a second yellow card to Eddie Gomez in the 49th minute, managed to knot the match up at 3-3 from a free kick by Nelson Landaverde in the 61st minute. Vukovic would pick up his second yellow for dissent soon after, and both teams would finish out the match playing with 10 men.

“We had nothing to lose,” said Tayou about battling back while playing down a man. “When we went a man down, we never panicked. That mentality kept us fighting, and eventually all our hard work was rewarded.”

With the match looking destined for extra time, Tayou then took matters into his own hands. His late winner, coupled with Weir’s late saves, sealed FC Wichita’s first win over an USL team in Open Cup play in club history.

The match was a high-intensity affair, with 13 yellow cards issued, with 8 cards issued to Tulsa and five to Wichita. Players had to be separated following the official’s final whistle.

Wichita will now travel to the Lone Star State to face NTX Rayados after the Texas-based squad dispatched OKC Energy in Second Round action.

2018 US Open Cup Round 1: Leo Sosa’s brace, including 40-yard bomb, leads FC Wichita past OKC Energy U23s

May 14, 2018 by Matt Will

In a First Round matchup in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Oklahoma City Energy U-23s were set to travel to Wichita, Kan. to take on FC Wichita in a Wednesday night contest. FC Wichita had qualified for the last three US Open Cups, spanning all three years of the team’s existence and for the second year in a row they advanced in their opening round game, beating the Energy U-23s, 3-1.

Leo Sosa led the way with a pair of goals to earn Wichita a trip to Oklahoma to take on the Tulsa Roughnecks of the USL in Round 2 next week.

The opening 30 minutes were scoreless but eventful. FC Wichita had a couple opportunities including two corner kicks. These minutes were somewhat clean, with only a few fouls and no cards. It was not until the 36th minute that the tie was broken up. FC Wichita’s Leo Sosa, a midfielder, broke through the OKC Energy U-23s back line, beating the keeper with a hard shot.

Before the crowd could even settle, FC Wichita added another goal from Sosa, this time a strong strike from 40 yards out in the 38th minute.

“I’m a guy who’s always ready, my blood is always pumping,” Sosa said. “I just want to go, more and more.”

Other than a couple minute stoppage to assist two player who smacked heads together, the remainder of the first half had little opportunities, keeping it a 2-0 contest heading into the break.

The second half began with fury, as Energy U-23s midfielder Louis Bennett had a couple hard, yet clean, tackles to apply pressure to a now confident FC Wichita squad. The first card of the game was awarded in the 64th minute to FC Wichita midfielder Eddie Gomez and minutes later, OKC Energy was awarded their first yellow card, this one to forward Josh Garcia.

It was not until the 78th minute that OKC Energy U-23 had their first real opportunity of the game. FC Wichita goalkeeper Steve Hamersky misplayed a ball, picking it up just outside the goalie box, giving OKC Energy a great free kick chance, just 20-yards out. A strong strike from Garcia ended Hamersky’s clean sheet, moving the game to 2-1. Not even 30 seconds later, FC Wichita midfielder Taylor Henry was awarded a yellow card on a late tackle.

In the 84th minute, OKC Energy subbed an extra attacker in for a defensive man to attempt to score an equalizing goal. The result was flipped as FC Wichita’s left forward Ben Andoh found the back of the net on a cross by FC Wichita striker Franck Tayou in the five-minute stoppage time at the end of the half. The 3-1 score would hold true to the end, giving FC Wichita a win, their second win in a US Open Cup game.

“Winning a US game, it has a special feeling,” Gonzalo Carranza, a member of the FC Wichita coaching staff said. “We know we need to continue to step our game up, and we will make sure we do that.”

FC Wichita owned the shots category tonight, taking 18 shots to OKC Energy U-23’s 13. FC Wichita has three corner kicks to OKC Energy U-23’s one. Hamersky recorded 10 saves for FC Wichita and goalkeeper Cooper Clark stopped 13 stops for OKC Energy U-23. FC Wichita was called offsides seven times to OKC Energy U-23’s 5.
FC Wichita advances to the second round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the second straight year. They will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma to play the Tulsa Roughnecks on May 16. The Roughnecks received a first-round bye to automatically advance to the second round. That game kicks off at Hurricane Soccer & Track Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kick off has not been announced.

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Saint Louis FC’s rally spoils FC Wichita’s chance at rare upset

May 21, 2017 by Jordan Beech

Saint Louis FC punched its ticket to the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after dispatching 10-man FC Wichita (NPSL), 4-3 after extra time, at the Stryker Soccer Complex in Wichita, Kansas.

“The kids worked really hard for the team,” said St. Louis coach Preki. “They made it difficult for us. Anyone who comes here under these circumstances would have it hard.”

After seemingly handing his team defeat with a missed penalty kick at the beginning of second half stoppage time, Jose Angulo ultimately proved the visitors’ savior when he bagged his second goal of the game to make it 3-3 in the sixth minute of added time.

“Obviously, we came into a difficult place to play,” said Preki. “We were in a fight. We had so many chances in the first half, the second half and should have had some more goals.”

FC Wichita, representing the National Premier Soccer League, was seeking to become the second NPSL team in history to upset a professional team (Chattanooga FC remains the only team to do it). No NPSL team reached the Third Round, leaving the amateur league with a 1-40-3 (1-2 PKs) record against pro opposition. FC Wichita becomes just the seventh club to take a pro team to extra time.0-6-1 (0-1 PKs)

FC Wichita couldn’t have asked for a better start to the match. After receiving a square pass on a two-on-one break, Gordon Gurson was cut down in the box by St. Louis goalkeeper Devala Gorrick, receiving a yellow card in the process. Wichita captain Leo Sosa calmly stepped up to the spot, smashing the kick home in the top left corner to give Wichita a quick 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.

The visitors thought they had found the answer in the 21st minute, but Mark Weir proved equal to Milan Petrosevic’s low effort. The ensuing corner led to nothing.

However, St. Louis found better luck on their second corner of the match, which was earned after Matt Sheldon’s cross was cut out by the Wichita defense in the six-yard box. Petrosevic whipped in the corner and A.J. Cochran pounced on the ball to level the score in the 33rd minute.

Despite a few attacking forays by Wichita in the final moments of the opening stanza, the score would remain 1-1 in what proved to be a physical midfield battle.

An explosive second half made up for the drudgery in the first half. Pouncing on a rebound from Leonardo Catarina, Gurson reclaimed the goal advantage for Wichita in the 62nd minute. St. Louis again fought back, with Angulo levelling the match off a corner served in by Denis Ahmetovic in the 71st minute. Wichita’s Deri Corfe then unleashed a cannon from 25 yards out that bested Gorrick in the 81st minute for the apparent match-winner.

With St. Louis pressing forward in the dying minutes, Colton Haskin drew a straight red to preserve the victory when he swatted a slow-rolling St. Louis shot off the goal line. That set up the dramatic conclusion to the second half of play. Angulo quickly went from scapegoat to hero in the span of five minutes, missing the PK before heading home a cross, and regulation time ended level at 3-3.

Facing 30 more minutes and a enjoying a man advantage, it didn’t take for St. Louis to capitalize in the first extra time period. A cross sent in by Ryan Howe found Tyler David, who put it past Weir for St. Louis’ first lead of the match in the 96th minute. Wichita saw several good chances parried away as extra time marched on, but it wouldn’t be enough as the NPSL side bowed out to the professionals from St. Louis.

As a result of the win, St. Louis will head to Pontiac, Mich. to face the Michigan Bucks of the Premier Development League on May 31 at 7:30 p.m. EDT in the U.S. Open Cup Third Round. The winner will play the Chicago Fire (MLS) in Round 4.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: FC Wichita holds off shorthanded Azteca FC in the rain

May 14, 2017 by Robert Wilson

FC Wichita defeated Azteca FC 1-0 in extra time of a long, rainy first round US Open Cup match in central Kansas. The lone goal came in the 104th minute when Travis Pittman redirected Deri Corfe’s deflected shot into the visitor’s net.

Azteca FC’s first venture into the US Open Cup could not have been more trying. The night before the game Azteca’s already lengthy seven-hour trek from Denver to Wichita was derailed when their bus broke down in western Kansas and the game itself will be remembered for the lengthy rain delay, two red card ejections and the endless effort the Colorado team put in without getting the result.

12 minutes in to the first half Azteca FC defender Christian Moran was given a red card ejection for a studs-up tackle on Wichita’s Deri Corfe. Despite going down to 10 men, Azteca maintained their organization and occasionally tested Wichita goalkeeper Mark Weir.

Throughout the second half the home team dominated position but both teams had equal amounts of shots on net, including the 75th minute shot by Azteca FC that rang off the cross bar. Just as the game was heating up heavy rain and lightning took over forcing the game to be paused at the 81st minute.

After a 45-minute delay, the game resumed and the final nine minutes were goalless ending the 90 minutes at 0-0.

The visitors tested Weir on multiple occasions in the first extra time period and looked like they may have what it would take to pull off the against-all-odds victory. But it was the hosts that claimed the go-head goal in the dying second of the first extra time period. Forward Travis Pittman pounced on Deri Corfe’s deflected shot and tucked his shot under the Azteca goalkeeper.

In second period of extra time Wichita looked like they were about to double their lead as Wichita attacker Matt Clare opened up the defense again. Azteca FC midfielder Jorge Velasquez flew in with a crunching tackle resulting in his second yellow card leaving the visitors short two players.

Once again the understaffed Azteca FC dug deep to find a boost of energy after the second ejection. Azteca FC tired and depilated tested Wichita up until the very end of the match however it was the home team that came out the victor.

The victory was FC Wichita’s first-ever Open Cup victory, after falling to the Des Moines Menace in their tournament debut last year. On Wednesday, May 17, they will take on their first professional opponent as they will hit the road to take on Saint Louis FC of the USL.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Des Moines Menace rally to beat FC Wichita, earn rare home game vs. pro team

May 12, 2016 by Ian Knighton

The Des Moines Menace is through to the next round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Menace used a late, breakaway goal from Leigh Veidman to secure the 1-0 victory over FC Wichita (NPSL) and move on to host the Tulsa Roughnecks Wednesday at Valley Stadium.

“It’s exciting for the club,” said Veidman. “We’re excited to get to play a pro team at home.”

Wichita opened the scoring in the 46th minute, after a miscue in the penalty area gave the hosts a free tap-in. Carlos Contreras was left wide open on the back post to knock home a cross from the right side of the goal area.

Mark Heath Preston knotted the game up in the 57th minute on a breakaway attempt from a quick throw-in. Working down the left flank, Heath Preston cut in and was one-on-one with Steven Hamersky. The forward powered his shot to the near post and put the Menace on level terms once again.

Veidman capped off Des Moines’ comeback to give the Menace the opportunity to host a US Open Cup game for the seventh straight season. .

The England native worked behind the Wichita defense in the 85th minute and slotted home the breakaway goal, just one minute after the Menace had multiple opportunities to find a winner.

Hamersky kept out two shots and watched as a Heath Preston-header clipped the crossbar.

“I think it shows a lot of character, going down a goal and coming back for the win,” Veidman said. “We were creating chances, and it was a just a case of being patient and composed when the opportunity came. This gives us a sense of momentum going into next week, and I’m just happy for the team.”

Des Moines now has the Tulsa Roughnecks on deck at home. This season, Tulsa sits 13th out of 15 teams in the USL Western Conference.

This will be the first time in 11 years the Menace has hosted a professional team in the Open Cup. The last time they did was in 2005 when they upset the USL’s Charleston Battery 3-2 at Waukee Stadium. Next week will mark the first time the club will host a pro team at Valley Stadium.